Messages - Brian

Yeah, I've actually been surprised at how many different stores have told me "yeah, we've had a lot of calls about those" when I've asked. Some seem annoyed, although others don't seem to mind too much. If there is one thing this "hunt for Fett" has made me realize, I don't think I like "the hunt" anymore. It may just be the store(s) and the situation, but driving around to multiple Walgreens the last couple weeks has just seemed like a big time suck . I've used the Fett finder feature on Walgreens.com, and it seems pretty accurate for the most part. It seems to show "in stock" if they have any 6" series at all (not just Fett), and goes out of stock the same day if sold out. I did run into one store who when I told them their website said they had them in stock, said they had a Fett, but it was being held for someone who called in....for three days now. Oh well. I have found a Vader and a Luke, so it was nice to not come home completely empty handed from these multiple trips, but I think I'm about done running to stores outside of the ones closest to our house (or maybe just the one closest).

I keep checking as well, but no signs here. I have seen the GoT stuff several times and started seeing the Marvel Agent Venom this week. It does seem like Walgreens has been expanding their toy aisle though.

Similar to my last post here I guess, but does anyone know if Spike still has the rights to Star Wars? I seem to remember the deal being for six years starting in 2008 when ROTS was first on cable. I'm pretty sure it hasn't been on this year, or if so it has been awhile. I was wondering if maybe Disney had the rights now or what. I've seen Indy on TV several times this year, on several stations, but no sign of Star Wars. Not that we can't just watch it on DVD, Blu Ray, etc., just curious.

I had an Amazon gift card from last Christmas to use up, so I picked up the Milano from the Guardians stuff. I had been wanting to get it for awhile, but always have to budget a bit more for those larger sets. Plus, I can't get enough of the Guardians stuff right now .

Found the Walgreens exclusive Agent Venom figures this weekend while on the lookout for the Star Wars ones. Pretty nice figure overall, and the store I hit had nothing but Agent Venoms, so I'm not sure if it is separate case or what. I had thought it was going to be shipping with other Spidey Legends figures from the previous waves this year, but apparently not.

Sorry for the stupid question, but I was looking through both LEGO's site and this year's SDCC and Toy Fair coverage, and are there any new Lord of the Rings sets on the way this year? I know we have at least a couple more for The Hobbit, but wasn't sure about LOTR proper. I'm guessing this is sort of the last hurrah for both lines since the final movie is out in December?

I've been checking Walgreens the past few days as well. We have a ton of them in town I know, but I've only hit four or five with no luck. I've seen the Game of Thrones stuff at several, and just found the Agent Venom figure from the Marvel Legends line at one of them this weekend. No Star Wars though, aside from some 20" Darth Maul figures. Are these always showing up in those little sidecap thingys? That's where I've seen the other "collector" figures, at least for the most part.

Just saw this this morning as well, not sure whether to pick it up or not. It doesn't sound as if it is "in scale" with their figure line (they mention it coming with a surprise 1.5" figure), but then again, it would be kind of neat to have a Smaug in the collection room. Then again, there will be a LEGO one eventually too...

I agree, they will take a little to get used to after having such a memory burned in of the original troopers - but that being said, they do look kind of cool. Between these pics and the Falcon stuff the other day, I'm really starting to get excited at the prospect of Star Wars on the big screen again. I hope we start getting some official stuff released, although I know the movie is still well over a year away. Every time we see a pic like this, I still have to think "wow, this is really happening".

Went again today, still loved it. Honestly, it may be a bit of the "newness" excitement right now, but I think this breaks my personal Top 10. It is definitely right up there with Avengers, Winter Soldier, and the original Iron Man as my favorite Marvel movies. The fact that it is this obscure property makes it all the more cool. I wasn't overly aware of a lot of these characters as a kid, but got into the cosmic stuff a bit more with the whole revival in the comics with Abnett/Lanning a few years back. This group is the one that really stuck with me, and it is so exciting to see them on the big screen (and in such a good movie as well). Hope to get to see it again in theaters, and the blu ray can't come soon enough .

I missed the exclusive as well, kinda bummed. I really want that comic Star-Lord (although it is supposed to be coming next year as well in that 5 pack mentioned at SDCC), and the Medusa as well. I have the earlier Black Bolt, so not a huge deal there, but the others would have been nice too. I keep checking hoping that it will come back in stock, but I'm not hopeful. Honestly, this was the only exclusive I was really after this year. I thought about Jabba (although missed that too of course), but I'm ok with the regular version as well.

I've been checking on and off all week as well, figuring stuff would go up while we were in the theater today for Guardians. We're off for a family zoo trip tomorrow, so it might happen then as well . I'm on the fence about the Jabba honestly, I would try to grab it if possible, but I really want the Marvel Legends set with Star-Lord, Medusa, etc. Hopefully the delay is just so they can make more available (wishful thinking).

Saw it this afternoon, and loved it. One of my favorites, honestly, not just Marvel but of movies in general. Just the type of movie I enjoy with equal parts Star Wars and Marvel, hoping to see it a couple more times in theaters. So much good in there. My wife (and others in our theater) were sort of "what the?" with the credits scene as well, but I was proud when our daughter recognized what was going on (I won't go spoilery here).

I just got notice that this wave (or some of it anyways) is on its way via Amazon. I know this wave hasn't exactly gotten rave reviews, but it is just exciting to have some new 3 3/4" figures on the way. As I've been cleaning up the display and condensing storage this summer, I realized I don't remember the last time I added a new 3 3/4" figure to the display. Its been awhile...

I was watching the Hasbro presentation via SWAN's podcast this week, and it really drove home the point how boring the exclusives are this year - pretty much across the board. There are a couple exceptions (the Walgreens Fett, and the Shadow set at Target), but other than those, everything is pretty lackluster. Not a big deal necessarily, but I remember when exclusive stuff was a big deal - and often times quite cool (It wasn't that long ago I was chasing down vintage boxed Taun Tauns, snowspeeders, etc.) Almost everything else offered is something we already have, repackaged, or something that we can get at every other retailer anyway (like the ship/figure sets). Again, not a big deal, just an observation.